5 Tips for Keeping Your Kids Entertained During Long Car Rides
For many American families, summer is nothing without an ultimate family road trip. Safety should always be a priority when it comes to hitting the open road, but that can prove difficult on long drives through parts of the country where there really isn’t much to look at. You can imagine what it feels like for a child when there’s a lack of visual stimulation – it’s certainly painful enough for adults at times!
When there’s a lack of entertainment, your children can quickly become restless and start to fuss, which can ultimately turn into a distraction for whoever is driving. Providing your kids with activities can prevent an accident caused by distracted driving from occurring. No matter where you’re headed this summer, these are some of the best ways to keep your little ones entertained during long road trips.
License Plate LINGO. Unlike BINGO, License Plate Lingo requires your kids to think a bit. When you pass a license plate, have each child come up with a meaning for the acronym on the plate. For example, a license plate that reads ILC could mean “I Love Cookies!” The child with the most creative or funniest answer wins.
Color Count. This game is great for kids of all ages. Have each child choose a car color. They are responsible for keeping track of how many cars they pass that are their individual color. The first participant to reach a count of 10 wins!
Window Art. Supply your kids with dry erase markers so that they can create their own masterpieces while you drive. Tell them to let the passing surroundings inspire their work. If you’re not comfortable with your child drawing directly on your car, old CD cases make great dry erase surfaces to write on. Make sure to pack paper towels or wet wipes for an easy cleanup.
The Name Game. This game can be played with the names of celebrities or people that you know. One person starts by naming someone – if you’re playing with celebrities and someone says Emma Watson, the next person has to name a celebrity who has a name that starts with a “W.” The game goes around the car until someone can’t come up with another name. To make the game more challenging, reverse the order of who goes next when a person with 1 name or double letters (Mickey Mouse) are used.
Electronics. Tablets are a lifesaver when it comes to long car rides. When all else fails, hand the tablets over to your kids. In an effort to make sure they don’t miss all of the landscapes you pass, limit the time they’re able to use their tablets for games and movie watching. To ensure there are no tears when the battery dies, pack car adapters to make charging easy.
Keep your kids entertained to ensure safety during your travels this summer. Visit icandrive.com for other safe driving tips.
